KESHAV P. KOIRALA KATHMANDU: The clause-wise discussion on the Revised Bill of new constitution ended at the Constituent Assembly on Sunday, after the top-most leaders of three major parties -- UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala-- took part in it. Addressing the Constituent Assembly this afternoon, they stressed the need for talks and urged the agitating parties and other forces to take up peaceful measures to resolve their differences. The leaders, however, maintained that the ongoing process to deliver the new constitution would move ahead. The next meeting of CA, scheduled for 5 pm, would start the voting process on the amendment proposals on the Revised Bill of new constitution, its clauses, preamble and name, CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang announced after Constitution Drafting Committee Chairman Krishna Prasad Sitaula responded to the concerns raised over the Bill. Prime Minister Koirala said bigger issues including the peace process, notwithstanding uncertainty over it, were resolved, emphasising on the significance of talks, and asking the political forces that left the CA and are launching violent agitation in the streets to come to the table. 'We are going to formally institutionalise the constitution and federalism today,' Prime Minister Koirala said. 'If we fail to take up the changes then I see that the future is dark.' Mentioning that it took nine years (since the formation of first Constituent Assembly) and seven decades of democratic movement in the country to come to this moment, Koirala said, 'It is very difficult to include everybody's opinions...We are going to make meaningful decision today.' He urged the agitating parties and forces to come to the table for talks, adding that there was scope for finding solution to their concerns through amendment of the statute after it was promulgated. He further said the constitution in the making should ensure all the rights that the Interim Constitution guaranteed, and pointed out the need for amendment of some clauses. He added that the three parties have already agreed for that. According to Koirala, the new constitution was a 'document of (political) compromise', given the equation of the Constituent Assembly, and the threats to set it ablaze was tantamount to setting the country on fire. 'If we got stuck in further conflict now, then it would be like pouring water in sand and the country would be mired in existential crisis.' According to him, he has told the representatives of international communities that 'we (the major parties) want to take all parties on board and you also have to convince them (to return to the process)'. Dismissing the claims that the Nepal Army was mobilised to clampdown the agitation in the southern belt, Koirala said the deputation of army was but an interim security arrangement made in local level. 'International community also should understand this.' He said the violent protests, in which court, houses of lawmakers and police stations have been targeted cannot be considered peaceful. Expressing his condolence to the families of those killed in the recent violence, Koirala earlier said that the bereaved families would be provided with appropriate relief and the government agencies would look after the ones injured. Speaking prior to Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Oli said that the CA would move ahead with the constitution-drafting process in order to prevent Nepal from getting stuck in uncertainty and status quo. The first Constituent Assembly failed, he said, 'It was not a simple thing, it was a serious thing.' 'We have come here to build the constitution. To reach to an agreement, we have to listen to others' opinions also as saying 'what I believe or say shall happen' may not bear fruit .' So, constitution and its drafting process should not be halted but moved forward, according to him. There could be diversity in opinions but unanimity in process, he added, referring to the readiness of some parties, including Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Workers Peasants Party, to follow the process despite their differences over many issues to deliver the new constitution. He stated that institutionalising the people's rights and other achievements made through democratic movements was the prime responsibility. 'We are going to institutionalise republic, federalism and people's fundamental rights through Constituent Assembly now,' Oli added. He criticised the forces raising voices for the secession of Madhes and trying to disrupt cultural harmony in the country. But he was quick to say that it was a few extremist leaders only doing  so and not the people. He stated that Nepali people's patriotism was not a newfound phenomenon. When there was colonialism in the world, he added, Nepal remained free and now also would not accept any slavery and protect its geographical sovereignty. Recalling Heine's quote 'I have sown dragon's teeth and harvested fleas' -- though wrongly attributing it to Karl Marx -- Maoist leader Dahal said the draft constitution somehow appeared to be fleas and was not on a par with a new state that his party had envisaged. But it's a time of agni-pariksha, he said, adding that failing to deliver new constitution would push the country to further crisis. 'Objectively speaking, we have entered from one period to another and we all are bearing that labour pain,' he added. Earlier, UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that this CA should deliver the constitution at any cost. Referring to the ongoing agitation in different parts of the country, he said that efforts would be made to fulfil their legitimate demands. 'But this high time we became cautious about the activities that intend to fail the country, people, parties and Constituent Assembly,' he asserted. 'The constitution should be made by the Constituent Assembly at any cost. Otherwise, the country would be pushed to mishap.' He, however, acknowledged the ongoing agitation in different fronts as well as interests of national and international forces as normal. 'People are worried whether we can deliver the rights as promised as they know that the constitution would not be made by the Constitution Assembly time and again.' 'We will try to meet the rightful demands.' He heavily criticised the voices for secession of the country and setting up Tarai-Madhes region as a separate country. 'This statement is suicidal and betrayal to the nation,' he maintained, arguing that such an agenda could not be in favour of the Madhesi people at any cost. Recalling the role of people of different regions and ethnicities in Nepal's evolution as a modern state, he said Madhesi people cannot betray the nation. '...Given their cultural and historic contributions, Madhesi people should claim their full share in Kathmandu. Thoughts of separating from Kathmandu cannot be nationalistic,' he added. 'At this final turn of the history, we should not forget that due to the joint contribution of different communities including Kiratis, Madhesis and Janajatis in building Kathmandu, Nepal never had to be puppet or colony at the time the so-called powerful nations had to be slaves of others.' Earlier, Nepal Workers Peasants Party Chairman and Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa had also aired their views. (Updated) --- Constituent Assembly meeting begins, top leaders addressing KATHMANDU: The Constituent Assembly meeting, which was deferred for two days, has started at the CA building in New Baneshwar on Sunday afternoon. The three major parties -- Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist -- have asked their CA members to attend the CA meeting compulsorily attend the meeting. The CA is scheduled to begin voting process on the clauses of Revised Bill of new constitution after the leaders complete airing their views on the draft constitution and related issues. Nepal Workers Peasants Party Chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Kamal Thapa, UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Thapa and KP Sharma Oli have already addressed the CA. After leader Oli, Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala is addressing.

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